1:48 F-4 Phantom II sewing Patches VF-84 VF-111 VF-74 VF-96 VX-4 photo-etched part

Photo-etched squadron patches F-4 Phantom II 1:48 – HAD models

This item is not an aircraft model and not a decal for its surface. It is a photo-etched set that depicts the cloth patches of the American naval squadrons associated with the F-4 Phantom II. The use is clear: they complete figures of pilots and ground crew in 1:48 scale, or small equipment in a display case. These are photo-etched parts, not decals.

The real subject

Squadron patches belonged to American naval aviation as naturally as the national insignia on the aircraft. They were worn on the flight suit and on the jacket and were the main visible mark of belonging to a particular unit. The squadrons covered — VF-84, VF-111, VF-74, VF-96 and VX-4 — belonged to units associated with the operation of the F-4 Phantom II, a two-seat multi-purpose machine that served the US Navy from the 1960s.

Use and tips

• Work with fine-tipped tweezers, the parts are very small
• Separate the part from the fret with a sharp knife on a hard surface, not by twisting
• A tiny amount of adhesive is enough to hold it; any excess shows around the patch as a glossy edge
• Place the patch onto a finished, painted figure, so that the detail underneath is not lost
• Unify the surface at the end with a matte clear coat

Who the set is for

For modelers who build American naval aviation in 1:48 scale and want their figures taken down to the last detail. Working with photo-etch of this size calls for a steady hand, good light and a magnifier, so the set belongs rather to more experienced builders. The same subject is also available in a larger scale if you need it for larger figures.